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The election campaign of Mansfield Mayor Kate Allsop has been cleared of any financial wrong-doing, Notts TV News can exclusively reveal.
A complaint was made to Police accusing the Mayor’s campaign of spending more than was legally permitted in the run-up to the May 2015 vote.
Police said they were looking into alleged financial irregularities in October – with strict rules saying those in the running must have spent no more than £6,969.72.
However after a police investigation the Crown Prosecution Service has said no charges will be brought in relation to the claims.
It’s had a huge impact on my life
Ms Allsop said she was “deeply shocked” when the claim first emerged but “wasn’t concerned” because her returns showed an underspend during the campaign.
“We’d underspent by £1,200, we’d run a good campaign, I looked at the other candidates returns, and they were all in a similar vein.
“People should be careful sometimes of the language they use – pepple are innocent until proven guilty.
“I think people could think ‘there is no smoke without fire’ – all I can do is point to the fact that there’s no case to answer.
“My integrity is so important to me, I’m a magistrate and during this time I haven’t sat in court because I didn’t think that was right.
“So it’s had a huge impact on my life – but knowing I was innocent, I didn’t lose a single night’s sleep.”
Independent Forum memnber Ms Allsop beat Labour’s Martin Lee on second preference votes in the ballot.
The decision also clears Councillor Stewart Rickersey, who was the mayor’s election agent over the campaign.
He said: “It was about me as the election agent.
“I’ve been through this process enough times to know what’s right and what’s wrong.”
